China has accused the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of launching sophisticated cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February, targeting critical Chinese industries like energy, transportation, and national defense.
Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that Chinese police in Harbin named three alleged NSA agents—Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson—and added them to a wanted list.
They also implicated the University of California and Virginia Tech, without detailing their roles.
According to China's state agency Xinhua, the attacks aimed to sabotage infrastructure, steal sensitive data, and disrupt social order, particularly during the Winter Games. The NSA allegedly used anonymous servers and pre-installed Windows backdoors to conceal its operations and gather personal data of participating athletes.
This comes amid growing cyber tensions between the U.S. and China, as both sides accuse each other of cyber espionage. Beijing has recently increased its own accusations against the U.S., reversing years of being the primary target of such allegations from Western nations.